# Accident 19970311003049A: Cessna 172B, Marquette, MI, March 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1997, 13:30 local time
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5498° N, 87.3897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5498&lon=-87.3897&mi=10
- Aircraft: N171AS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N171AS-2023-08-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172B (registry code 2072406, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B
- Reported engine: CONT O300*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 73 total, 73 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970311003049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT LOST OIL PRESSURE WHILE EN ROUTE AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO ENTER THE CABIN FROM THE HEATER VENT.  HE SHUT THE VENT AND SCANNED THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS.  HE NOTED THERE WAS 'NO OIL PRESSURE.'  THE ENGINE 'STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND SHAKING.'  HE 'SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN TO MINIMIZE VIBRATION...ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE ANGLE' AND CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED SWAMP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE 'LOWER OIL SEPARATOR HOSE' WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE WET VACUUM PUMP.  THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO CONNECTING ROD BOLTS WERE NECKED AND FRACTURED.  CORRESPONDING HOLES WERE PUNCHED IN THE CRANKCASE.  THE LEFT MAGNETO GASKET AND THE STARTER MOTOR MOUNTING FLANGE EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE.  COMBUSTION DEPOSITS AND SPARK PLUGS IN THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF 'POSSIBLE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION.'  THE OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT HE HAD 'TOPPED OFF' THE ENGINE OIL PRIOR TO THE ORIGINATION OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.                                               (-23) ON MARCH 11, 1997 AT 1430 EDT DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA CE-172-B, N171A  S SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN.  THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND SMOKE IN COCKPIT WHICH CAUSE ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED MINOR INJURIES TO THIS FOREHEAD.  THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA085), Mar 11, 1997: Cessna 172 (N171AS), Marquette, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: multiple oil leaks in the engine lubrication system. Factors were the disconnected wet vacuum pump line and the oil exhaustion.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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